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TGIF and an early Happy Valentine’s Day to all 2,000 of you! Whether you're planning a romantic evening, a Galentine's Day with friends, or a solo treat-yourself outing, Palm Desert has no shortage of ways to celebrate the day — from craft markets and paint-and-sip nights to ice skating, candlelit concerts, and even a Love Boat ride. No matter your relationship status, there's something special waiting for you. Need some ideas? The city has you covered here.
🎶 Setting the mood: "Let’s Stay Together" by Al Green
Leading Off
Officials said Thursday they plan to keep this building for city use after the Sheriff’s Department moves out.
Council eyes city use for Sheriff's building
The Palm Desert City Council wants to repurpose a Riverside County Sheriff's Department facility at the Civic Center complex for city use, directing staff to explore renovation options rather than pursue private leasing or demolition.
Driving the news: The council weighed three options for the 25,393-square-foot building adjacent to City Hall during a study session Thursday after staff sought guidance on the property's future. The Sheriff's Department has operated there since 1989, but its lease expires at the end of this year.
The departure will cost Palm Desert approximately $570,000 in annual rental revenue, representing nearly half the income generated by the Palm Desert Office Complex Enterprise Fund.
The options: Renovating for city use would cost around $974,000, while preparing the building for commercial tenants would run an estimated $1.7 million. Demolition would cost approximately $1.1 million.
What they're saying: Councilmember Gina Nestande called the property "a finite resource" and said she envisioned it being used for city offices, community outreach and public engagement. Councilmember Jan Harnik said the building could house an Emergency Operations Center, library operations or the Citizens on Patrol program.
"This is the Civic Center complex — it needs to remain for the city," Harnik said.
What's next: Staff will conduct further analysis to refine costs, identify funding sources and return to the council with a detailed implementation strategy. No decision was made on a specific use for the building.
Briefly
Parents and children should note that the playground at Civic Center Park is temporarily closing.
🛝 Civic Center Park playground to close starting next week
The playground at Civic Center Park will close next Tuesday (Feb. 17) for a renovation project expected to take about 90 days to complete.
The project will replace the existing playground with a new play structure, along with new shade structures, upgraded safety surfacing and enhanced lighting and landscaping. The City Council awarded the contract to Western State Builders last December.
At issue: City officials said the existing playground is due for an upgrade to meet modern safety standards and provide a more inclusive play experience, with the new design prioritizing accessibility, comfort and sustainability.
🏗️ Council rejects appeal of 546-home project on former golf course
The Palm Desert City Council voted 5-0 on Thursday to deny an appeal by an environmental group and uphold approval of the Catavina development, a 546-unit single-family residential community on the site of the former Santa Rosa Country Club golf course.
A nonprofit organization argued that a full environmental impact report was needed, citing greenhouse gas emissions exceeding common thresholds and more species found on site than the project's surveys detected. Blue Fern Development's attorney countered the group had not demonstrated any "significant and peculiar" impact required to overcome the project's exemption under CEQA.
Details: The project would be built on approximately 81 acres south of Frank Sinatra Drive and west of Portola Avenue at a density of seven units per acre. The council's decision is final and cannot be further appealed under the Palm Desert municipal code.
📅 Featured Events
Circle of Love Public Ice Skating
Today | 6 p.m. | Berger Foundation Iceplex
Come solo or with your partner for a Valentine's Day-themed public skate! Wear red or pink and get a free skate rental. ($15)
Palm Desert Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5k
Saturday | 7 a.m. | Civic Center Park
There are race options for all levels, from the 5k (3.1 mile) run/walk all the way up to the full 26.2 mile marathon distance. Check out the routes here, and register online. ($54)
Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling
Saturday | 10 a.m. | Desert Arc
We all know lithium-ion batteries can’t just be tossed in your garbage or home recycling bin. This weekend, pull your lithium-ion batteries and rechargeable devices from that junk drawer and recycle them at Desert Arc. (No e-waste, check for more information)
Coachella Valley Classical Voices
Sunday | 3 p.m. | Hope Lutheran Church
A new oratorio performed by CVC’s stunning soloists and ensemble performers.
CV Firebirds vs. Tucson Roadrunners
Sunday | 3 p.m. | Acrisure Arena
The Firebirds take on the Roadrunners on Sunday as the team works to qualify for the playoffs. ($27)
Paint Your Partner
Sunday | 6 p.m. | La Quinta Brewery
Spend a night laughing and bonding at this Paint Your Partner paint class. Not just for romantic partners! ($60)
📌 Save The Date
Desert Healthcare District Community Listening Session at UCR Palm Desert On Feb. 19.
Palm Desert Greek Fest at St. George Greek Orthodox Church on Feb. 21 and 22.
Desert Woman’s Show at Classic Club on Feb. 21. ($15)
Patti LuPone at the McCallum Theatre on Feb. 23
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✨ And Finally …
“Cactus Blossom” (at left) and a sculpture inspired by natural forms (right) are the two final pieces being considered for a San Pablo Avenue location.
Two artists are one step closer to landing a permanent spot in a Palm Desert roundabout — and if their claims hold up, whoever wins may never have to lift a finger again.
Driving the news: The Palm Desert Cultural Arts Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to advance sculptors DeWitt Godfrey and Gordon Huether as finalists for a sculpture at the San Pablo Phase 2 roundabout, located at the intersection of San Pablo Avenue and the east entrance to College of the Desert.
The two were selected after presentations from four artists who advanced from an original pool of 214 applicants.
The proposals: Godfrey pitched a Corten weathering steel sculpture inspired by natural forms and mathematical geometry known as Voronoi shapes, featuring organic, irregular cylindrical forms reaching roughly 22 feet high. Huether presented "Cactus Blossom," a Corten steel piece topped with a mirror-finished stainless steel sphere standing just under 17 feet tall.
Both artists emphasized their designs would be essentially maintenance-free. "You're never going to have to touch it. You're never going to have to clean it," Huether told the committee.
What's next: The two proposals will go out for community input through Engage Palm Desert and other outreach before the City Council makes a final selection in April.
Both proposals came in within the $200,000 budget.
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