Thank you to the following Chamber members without whom many of our programs would not be possible.
• Roundtrip international airfare & Tax
• 9-day deluxe tour package
• 4-star hotel accommodations
• Breakfast & lunch
• Deluxe bus
• Fluent English-speaking tour guides
• Entrance fees to attractions
Teresa Gallavan
Happy New Year, Palm Springs! 2022 was a very good year for the city, and we expect continued success in 2023 as business, tourism, and hospitality continue to flourish.
The city’s General Fund revenue is now an estimated $191.8 million. For comparison, five years ago, it was $131.9 million. In addition, sales tax revenue is now $31.8 million compared to five years ago, when it was $17.6 million. Transient occupancy revenue in 2022 was an incredible $53.9 million compared to $28.6 million five years ago. Hotel revenue is also doing well. In 2022 the city brought in $33.2 million compared to $19.6 million in 2021. Vacation rental revenue is up, bringing in an estimated $20.7 million compared to $15.4 million in 2021.
In addition, there is exciting news to report from Palm Springs International Airport. In December, the city announced the airport will double the number of restaurants and bring in more local representation, with a new concessions program set to begin in 2023. Keep reading in the pages ahead for more details about new local restaurants and retail coming to PSP.
Equally important to tourism and development growth is public safety. I’d like to take a moment to thank Chief of Police Andy Mills and our hardworking PSPD officers for their successful implementation of Operation Clean Streets, a new program that addresses homeless encampments. Keep reading for an in-depth look into the program.
Finally, I am pleased to announce the city of Palm Springs, in partnership with the county of Riverside, will break ground on a much-needed new homeless navigation center this winter. It is expected this new center will play an important role addressing homelessness in the city. You can find out more about these municipal developments, and all about the city’s newly strengthened short-term vacation rental program and ordinance, in the coming pages.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to me via email at CityManager@palmspringsca.gov.
All the Best,
Teresa Gallavan Interim City Manager
Operation Clean Streets, a new program developed by the Palm Springs Police Department, is transforming Palm Springs.
The program was created after a series of crime prevention meetings were held by Chief of Police Andrew Mills earlier this year. Chief Mills urged PSPD personnel to use data, problemsolving strategies, and community feedback
providers, the police department works with encampment residents to help clean, dispose, and reduce the size of their encampment, the goal being to help them exit street-level homelessness. Additionally, enforcement operations are conducted to reduce criminal behaviors that occur within the unhoused community.
of the homeless population.
Since its inception, Operation Clean Streets has removed several thousand gallons of trash and hundreds of bio-hazardous materials from parks, roadways, vacant lands, and buildings from more than 30 locations throughout the city. Some 71 arrests for criminal violations have been made.
to respond to the growing homeless crisis and crimes in the downtown area that impact quality of life.
Everyone deserves a clean and safe community. Operation Clean Streets helps make this a reality. By combining sanitation services and street outreach with service
Service providers from Riverside County Home Connect, Behavioral and Mental Health Services, and the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission assist during each Operation Clean Streets outreach effort to offer housing, plus substance abuse and mental health services. To date, more than 30 people have taken assistance from these service providers.
For more information, please visit www.PSPD.com
The city of Palm Springs is proud to announce it has been awarded a final score of 100 points in the 2022 Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Municipal Equality Index Scorecard.
The index is a nationwide evaluation of over 350 cities that examines how inclusive their municipalities are for LGBTQ+ people who live and work there. Cities are rated based on non-
discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement, and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality.
“Palm Springs is a unique and wonderfully diverse city, and we pride ourselves on being one of the most inclusive and welcoming communities in the country,” said Interim City Manager Teresa Gallavan.
“Thanks to our City Council’s strong commitment to equality and social opportunity, this city has become a nationwide leader and role model for other municipalities to follow when it comes to protecting the rights of our LGBTQ+ community. We thank HRC for recognizing our work with a perfect score.”
To view the report, visit hrc.org/mei.
ired of seeing the U.S.A. in your Chevrolet? Or perhaps you’ve found your mind wandering to exotic beaches, sipping a Bellini just off the Piazza San Marco, or strolling through a night market in Nairobi. Maybe it’s personal; you want to take your toddler to Mexico City to meet her grandparents and show her the pyramids of Teotihuacan for the first time.
After years of staying at home, it’s time to travel. The journey abroad starts with getting your U.S. passport. You don’t have one? No worries. That’s an easy fix. But it’s best to submit your application early so you have your passport in hand well before your travel dates. Luckily, the Palm Springs Public Library is a U.S. passport acceptance agency and offers convenient U.S. passport services for first-time applicants.
With a friendly staff and over 590 U.S. passport applications accepted through the library last year, you can feel confident in their ability to get you on the path to holding your first U.S. passport. In fact, the library was the very first such office to offer passport services in the United States.
To learn more about U.S. passport services at the Palm Springs Public Library — including fees, forms, required documents, general guidance, expedited services, and hours — or to schedule a passport appointment, visit pslibrary.org.
The library does not process passport renewals, only first-time applications. Passport photo services are available for a fee as well.
With a U.S. passport, the world is open to you. Get started on your journey abroad today and apply for your U.S. passport at the Palm Springs Public Library. You can then turn your travel dreams into reality. Cheers to all the adventures ahead!
The city of Palm Springs expects to break ground on a muchneeded new homeless navigation center in winter 2023.
Last August, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a transformational $19.1 million award in Homekey 2 funds to the city for the “Springs Housing Navigation Campus” in the northern part of town. With the funding, the city and county will build 70 units of housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, plus 10 units of housing for transition aged youth. Additionally, two warehouse buildings will be rehabilitated for on-site services. The center will be operated by Martha’s Village & Kitchen, one of the most respected providers of homeless services in Riverside County.
The city’s recently formed Resident Advisory Working Group obtained feedback on the design of the campus, allowing the architect to consider its input before finalizing the designs. Not only was the architectural firm in attendance, but county, city, and LeSar Development Consultants staff — alongside Martha’s Village & Kitchen representatives — were on hand to listen, answer questions, and provide additional context. The feedback collected primarily focused on the following themes:
Specifically designed outdoor spaces, such as murals and landscaping, that fit in with the community, set aside smoking area, etc.
Concerns, such as vehicular gate security, noise curfews, impact of wind, etc.
Additional considerations, such as a community garden, additional shading, energy saving approaches, outdoor seating, etc.
Volunteer opportunities, such as assisting with job applications, tutoring opportunities, and donations
The Resident Working Group members met again in October and were shown updated exterior designs as well as the interior designs for buildings 8 and 24, the two buildings for which rehabilitation through the Homekey 2 funds were awarded. Working Group members again were given the opportunity to provide additional feedback. Updated designs are anticipated to go to the City Council for review in January 2023.
Stay tuned for more updates and information about the groundbreaking, coming soon.
As Palm Springs International Airport continues to flourish, there is more exciting news to announce!
The Palm Springs City Council recently awarded new contracts for food, beverage, and retail. The Palm Springs Farmer’s Market will be featured as a curator of local gourmet foods and snacks, and downtown favorites Trio and El Mirasol will join the airport as well. In addition, Amazon’s Just Walk Out shopping service technology will be added to some of the retail locations, and a seasonal ice cream truck will be coming along with the airport’s first duty-free shopping experience. Construction will start in May 2023 and conclude in October 2023, in time for the season. Last month, the airport’s restaurant provider also added an additional quick-serve restaurant called Half Moon Empanadas, which offers savory empanadas, drinks and deserts. It’s a fast option to grab something to take on your flight.
Thanksgiving travel through PSP went smoothly. Upgrades made over the summer, and additional staff, proved successful to improving the airport’s baggage system in the short-term. The airport is planning another construction project for the baggage system to accommodate the unprecedented growth at PSP and for future demand.
The airport will soon embark on a Master Plan Update that will become its long-term planning document, guiding the airport’s development decisions for the next 20 years. Be on the lookout for an announcement regarding community meetings, coming soon. Your input is needed!
Since June 2021, the airport has set 15 new passenger records. In 2022, the airport’s total passenger count for January to September exceeded its passenger count for all of 2021, and and the airport expects 2022 to be a record year for PSP, beating the previous record year set in 2019.
New seasonal, daily service to Austin, Texas on American started in November 2022, and Southwest added daily year-round service to San Jose. In addition, Avelo Airlines, one of America’s newest carriers, recently started service from Palm Springs to Santa Rosa, Calfiornia, and to Eugene and Bend, Oregon in November. Avelo also just extended its Santa Rosa service into the third week of June, adding another two months of flights to its originally announced season. It's hoped that Avelo will make Santa Rosa year-round, which will give PSP a great nonstop flight option to California’s wine country. For more information about flights, visit PalmSpringsAirport.com.
On March 29, 2022, the Palm Springs City Council discussed the current state of vacation rentals, and staff subsequently created a working group to review additional data and draft recommendations to allow policy choices. The Council subsequently held three public meetings on September 29, October 17, and November 10, 2022. The final ordinance was adopted by the City Council on December 5, 2022.
Q. What is changing in, or being introduced into, the new ordinance?
A. The Vacation Rental Ordinance update introduces a new vacation rental percentage cap on vacation rental certificates with respect to organized neighborhood residential housing stock, a new vacation rental certificate (Junior Permits), a reduction of annual allotted contracts for vacation rental properties, a new rule for vacation rentals used also as an event house, a stricter penalty for delinquent transient occupancy tax remittance, and general clean-up of Ordinance 1918 language.
Q. What does vacation rental percentage cap mean?
A. Vacation rental percentage cap means the maximum vacation rental neighborhood percentage allowed by the City Council in each neighborhood. The cap is set at 20%.
Q. Where can I go to get more information on vacation rental percentage caps?
A. You may access the vacation rental website at psvacationrentalcompliance.com. On the main page, there is a link that will direct you to the vacation rental density webpage, where you can look at updated information related to specific organized neighborhood vacation rental neighborhood percentages
and a web map to assist with searching to find out which organized neighborhood a property is located in.
Q. Can I still apply for a vacation rental certificate today?
A. All new applications received after October 17, 2022 will be issued based on a “first in time, first in right” basis, based on the date that complete applications were submitted to the city. If the property applying for a vacation rental registration certificate is in a neighborhood that is at a 20% or higher vacation rental to residential household percentage, the application will be returned. Additionally, the applicant may request to be placed on a wait list for the respective neighborhood. Such requests must be made in writing.
Q. How will I know when a neighborhood falls below 20% density, and when I can file for a permit?
A. The department will maintain a list of all individuals who would like to apply for a permit. The list will be maintained in the order received, and applicants who are first in line will be notified via email and US certified mail to schedule an appointment to submit their application.
Q. What if I am a current vacation rental certificate holder?
A. Vacation rental percentage caps will not apply to you. You can continue to use your vacation rental up to the current 32 contracts, plus the additional four contracts for the third quarter, until December 31, 2025. Starting January 1, 2026, the number of vacation rental contracts allowed at a vacation rental will be 24. If you are a licensed event house, each special event permit you apply for will count toward the annual allotted vacation rental
contract limits. For new applicants (those who have submitted a complete application after October 17, 2022), the number of vacation rental contracts allowed at a vacation rental will be 24.
Q. What new transient occupancy tax rules apply to vacation rentals?
A. Under the new ordinance, if you fail to pay your transient occupancy tax after written notice to do so, your vacation rental certificate will be suspended for a period of 12 months
Q. Can I still call the vacation rental hotline if there is a nuisance at a vacation rental?
A. Yes. Please call (760) 322-8383. The city requires that guests are given a good neighbor brochure. For a copy, please visit psvacationrentalcompliance.com and navigate to Reminders.
Q. What is a junior vacation rental registration certificate?
A. It’s a new vacation rental registration certificate available for a reduced fee in the city’s vacation rental program. The number of vacation rental contracts per year allowed under this certificate is capped at six. Vacation rental percentage caps do not apply to these types of certificates. All other regulations of vacation rentals, including application requirements, operational requirements, TOT obligations, and penalties for violations, would apply.
Q. Who can I contact if I need further information?
A. You may contact the Department of Special Program Compliance at (760) 322-8382. Additionally, you may make an appointment to visit the office by using the department’s reservation system located at psvacationrentalcompliance.com under Department Contact/Appointments.
Marcelo Bengoechea keeps his sibling Fernando’s
BY DANIEL VAILLANCOURT
“I want to keep saying [Fernando’s] name out loud because I think it’s important for everybody who’s lost their life for their life to be more than that moment of death. And his work and his art will live on for everybody who he filmed; for everybody whose life he touched. But we get to see him through his work forever.” –Oprah Winfrey
When the devastating Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami struck the serene shores of the South Asian island country of Sri Lanka on December 26, 2004, not only did interior designer Nate Berkus (made world-famous by Oprah Winfrey) lose his partner — 39-year-old Fernando Bengoechea, whose body was dragged out to sea and never found — but the world lost countless future images of a supremely talented, internationally renowned photographer.
It took years for Fernando’s brother, Marcelo Bengoechea, to come to terms with his sibling’s death. When he finally did, he still could not bear that Fernando’s art would die with him. The former therefore made it his life’s mission to keep the latter’s work alive.
Fernando had pioneered a technique of interweaved photography whereby he took two identical giclée prints and hand-wove them together to create a
single new image. Following his brother’s death, Marcelo taught himself how to preserve, revive, and evolve the novel artform, ultimately mastering it.
Based in Encinitas, California, Marcelo founded The Studio at Fernando Bengoechea with the sole goal to carry on Fernando’s legacy. He is not only the studio’s creative director but oversees the Fernando Bengoechea Archives. Today, each photograph Marcelo creates from Fernando’s originals is custom-made to order in any size.“It’s like a collaboration between brothers. One in heaven and one on earth,” states the studio’s website. “Fernando took the photos and Marcelo does the weaving. It took Marcelo more than a decade to build up the courage and start weaving. He thought that it was ‘his’ thing and that he had no right to ‘steal it’ from his brother. As time went by, and with people continuing to show interest in Fernando’s work, his view slowly changed.”
“It’s like a collaboration between brothers. One in heaven and one on earth,”
Some of Fernando’s most arresting images are from his “Karma Tree” series shot in Joshua Tree. A select sampling of these works will headline the first U.S. exhibition featuring Fernando’s photos woven by Marcelo. The unveiling will take place in Palm Springs during Modernism Week 2023.
An invitation-only, opening night reception — which Marcelo will attend — will be held on Saturday, February 18, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Super Simple, a retail space at 800 North Palm Canyon Drive that was selected because its aesthetics align with those of Fernando and Nate. A dozen collaborative pieces will be on display — and for sale — for one month.
“Fernando is dead. I can accept that,” has famously said Marcelo. “But his art does not have to die with him.”
“When you met Fernando, you knew you were among one of the strongest, most purposeful, and persistent people you’d ever meet — that he was here to accomplish what he set out to accomplish,” wrote Berkus in his intimate, autobiographical 2012 book The Things That Matter. “He set the bar extremely high for people but never any higher than it was set for himself... I know that the memories I have of making a home and feeling at home with another human being — that is all part of Fernando’s legacy.”
Winfrey — through whom the two men met — has said, “I want to keep saying [Fernando’s] name out loud because I think it’s important for everybody who’s lost their life for their life to be more than that moment of death. And his work and his art will live on for everybody who he filmed; for everybody whose life he touched. But we get to see him through his work forever.”
Fine art photography aficionados will not want to miss this very special art show stemming from one brother’s undying love for the other. For more information, please visit fernandobengoechea.com
Alpha Behavioral Health
2121 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 3, Palm Springs, CA, 92262 (760) 840-0102 www.abh.care
Leviton Law Group, A P.C. 777 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 200-98
Palm Springs, CA, 92262 (213) 402-4576 www.levitonlawgroup.com
Luxuria and The Lab
462 S. Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA, 92262 (760) 318-0088
Comfort Air
72248 North Shore Steet, Suite 101 Thousand Palms, CA, 92276 (760) 320-5800 www.comfortac.com
Haven Kids Center
1243 N. Gene Autry Trail Palm Springs, CA, 92262 (442) 402-7015 www.havenkidscenter.com
Karina’s Bookkeeping Services
2925 E. Escoba Drive #115
Palm Springs, CA, 92264 (760) 808-7297 www.kbservices.cloud
Spirit of SophiaA Pool Side Adventure 1491 Via Soledad Palm Springs, CA, 92264 (512) 777-1455 www.spiritofsofia.com
Sweet Spot Club LLC 73338 Highway 111
Palm Desert, CA, 92260 (442) 227-4488 www.sweetspotclub.net
Beyond Hello
4765 E. Ramon Road Palm Springs, CA, 92262 (760) 325-5708 www.beyond-hello.com
Taste Specific Inc.
197 W. Via Lola Unit 22
Palm Springs, CA, 92262 (410) 707-1704 www.tastespecific.com
Palm Desert Design Center 73-185 Highway 111 Palm Desert, CA, 92260 (760) 792-9040
www.palmdesertdesigncenter.us
Back Nine Greens
75061 Mediterranean Avenue Palm Desert, CA, 92211 (760) 343-8760 www.backninegreens.com
Dowding Appraisals
401 South El Cielo Road #114
Palm Springs, CA, 92262 (405) 595-8983 www.dowdingappraisal.com
Romantic Shots Photography
74-399 Highway 111, Suite D Palm Desert, CA, 92260 (800) 320-0415 www.romanticshots.com
The Sonoran
1555 S. Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA, 92264 (916) 934-4140 www.thesonoranps.com
Ball Beach Wear
170 E. Arenas Road
Palm Springs, CA, 92262 (646) 209-7910 www.ballbeachwear.com
Modern Elements
1068 N. Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA, 92262 (760) 699-5100
www.modernelementsps.com
Residential Brokers 77564 Country Club Drive, Suite 226 Palm Desert, CA, 92211 (760) 501-2233 www.residentialbrokers.org
Jacobsson Engineering Construction 72310 Varner Road
Palm Springs, CA, 92276 (760) 345-8700 www.jacobssoninc.com
Cafe Mon Amour
333 N. Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA, 92262 (760) 673-9615
Clandestino
175 N. Palm Canyon Drive #160 Palm Springs, CA, 92262 (760) 699-6222 www.clandestinopalmsprings.com
The Front Porch
117 La Plaza
Palm Springs, CA, 92262 (415) 846-5002
www.frontporchpalmsprings.com
As-Built Drawings Gregg
Hammond
57280 Yucca Trail #533 Yucca Valley, CA, 92284 (760) 365-9558
www.as-built-gmh.com
Masood A. Chotani, C.P.A
777 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way Suite 200-221
Palm Springs, CA, 92262 (760) 696-5074
www.chotanicpa.com
Out West Trading Co
100 N Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA, 92262 (760) 699-8779 www.outwesttradingco.com
Soar Air Tours 2 42215 Washington Street Suite 3A 550
Palm Desert, CA, 92211 (760) 279-6161 www.soarair.com
Williams Homes
24911 Avenue Stanford
Santa Clarita, CA, 91355 (626) 590-6677 www.williamshomes.com
L & L Accounting and Tax, CPA
67450 Ramon Road, Suite A
Cathedral City, CA, 92234 (760) 202-7797
www.llaccountants.com
Dr. Michael J. Feldman
707 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 21 Palm Springs, CA, 92262 (310) 286-6700
Palmina Italian Restaurant
2500 N. Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA, 92262 (760) 895-9255
www.palminabypuglia.com
Palm Springs Tennis Stringing
190 W. Amado Road
Palm Springs, CA, 92262 (760) 477-5970
www.palmsprings.tennis
Scan to view the full directory of Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce members
Palm Springs City Hall
3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way (760) 323-8299
palmspringsca.gov
Palm Springs Police Department
200 S. Civic Way
Direct Line (760) 323-8116 Public Information (760) 323-8106 pspd.com
Palm Springs Fire Department
300 N. El Cielo Road (760) 323-8181
Office of the City Manager (760) 322-8362
Office of the Assistant City Manager/City Engineer (760) 323-8202
Office of the City Council (760) 322-8385
Office of the City Attorney (760) 323-8205
Office of the City Clerk (760) 323-8204
Request public records via email at cityclerk@palmspringsca.gov
Office of Communications/ Public Information (760) 323-8250
Office of Neighborhood Involvement (760) 323-8255 palmspringsneighborhoods.com
Office of Special Program Compliance/Vacation Rentals & Cannabis (760) 322- 8383
Information Technology and Palm Springs Community Television (760) 322-8397
Finance Department Direct Line (760) 323-8229
Business Licenses (760) 323-8289
Community and Economic Development (760) 323-8259
Office of Sustainability (760) 323-8214
Planning Services (760) 323-8245
Public Works & Engineering (760) 323-8253
Building & Safety (760) 323-8242
Maintenance & Facilities (760) 323-8167
Code Enforcement (760) 323-8177
Parks and Recreation
401 S. Pavilion Way (760) 323-8272
Demuth Community Center
3601 E. Mesquite Ave. (760) 320-6430
James O. Jessie Desert
Highland Unity Center 480 Tramview Road (760) 323-8271
Palm Springs Public Library
300 S. Sunrise Way (760) 322-7323
palmspringslibrary.org
Welwood Murray Memorial Public Library & Visitors Center
100 S. Palm Canyon Drive (760) 323-8296
Palm Springs International Airport
3400 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way (760) 318-3800
palmspringsairport.com
Palm Springs Animal Control (760) 323-8151 (760) 327-1441
Active animal assistance
Palm Springs Animal Shelter 4575 E. Mesquite Avenue (760) 416-5718
psanimalshelter.org
Palm Springs Convention & Bureau of Tourism
277 N. Avenida Caballeros (760) 325-6611 VisitPalmSprings.Com
Organized Neighborhoods of Palm Springs, ONE-PS one-ps.org palmspringsneighborhoods@one-ps.org
USEFUL CONTACTS FOR OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICES AND ORGANIZATIONS
Desert Water Agency 1200 Gene Autry Trail South (760) 323-4971 DWA.org
LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert 1301 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Ste. 301 (760) 416-7790 thecenterps.org
Mizell Center 480 S. Sunrise Way (760) 323-5689 mizell.org
Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce 190 W. Amado Road (760) 325-1577 pschamber.org
Palm Springs Disposal Services
4690 E. Mesquite Avenue (760) 327-1351 palmspringsdisposal.com
Palm Springs Unified School District
150 District Center Drive (760) 883-2700 psusd.us
Volunteer Palm Springs PO Box 5803
Palm Springs, CA 92263 760.902.2297 volunteerpalmsprings.org
CITY HOTLINES
Code Enforcement (760) 778-8434
Graffiti (760) 778-8469
Vacation Rental Compliance (760) 322-8383
ELECTED OFFICIALS
Congressman Ken Calvert, 42nd District 400 S. Vincentia, Avenue, Ste. 125 Corona, CA 92882 (951) 277-0041
Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, 4th District Coachella Valley District Office 73710 Fred Waring Drive, Ste. 222 Palm Desert, CA 92260 (760) 863-8211
State Senator Melissa Melendez, 28th Senate District 45125 Smurr Street, Ste. B Indio, CA 92201 (760) 398-6442
